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News & ArtsWednesday, June 17, 2009
Two-Block Radius / Sports Class War
Posted by Christopher Frizzelle on Wed, Jun 17, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Yesterday, the wall of Sounders posters across the street from the office—recently fucked with/covered up, like so—was back to normal:
Here's the same wall this morning:
In case you're wondering what's going on—no, it's not an art piece about how all the star players keep getting ejected from games—a commenter to that first post, under the alias Anarchy Group Rules, took credit for the light vandalism, saying:
Anarchy Group has been covering these faces religiously every other night or so. Nothing personal against the sounders. We just think it is tacky to take advantage of space used for free by local bands and artists to promote shows. (Ag rule #1 don't be tacky) They have a budget and should advertise on billboards, and buses. Some dorsh bag is making good money marketing on that free space and I don't want to see the poster space lost to snazzy marketing campaigns. (Ag rule #2 no rules) Anarchy Group has modified the Sounders ad to reflect just how tacky their approach is.One evening while we were out a man stopped his BMW SUV in the middle of the street to take my picture with his iphone. "There I caught you vandalizing he screamed." (then drove to Mad Beach to dump his trunk full of six pack rings into Lake Washington) I've been wondering where that guy is, or if he saw that I was posting my own face on the wall. How fun would it be to see him rouse a police officer to look at the vandal on his iphone. "Oh yes Mr. Dorsh, we'll get on that one right away... NOT!"
(PS: Sounders play D.C. United tonight at 7:30 at Qwest Field. The Sounders-produced preview of the game is here.)
1
I like After better. Nothing against the Sounders, but I love the evolution and modification of street advertising. A nice reminder that advertising is not sacred. Now it's art!
2
Hey it's a free wall, right?
What's tacky is acting like you're superior to anyone else and you're somehow morally justified in covering up their "Art" when in fact you're just like them and you're all the same
you post what you want
they post what they want.
Ah the horrible sin of pretentiousness. Shudder!
What's tacky is acting like you're superior to anyone else and you're somehow morally justified in covering up their "Art" when in fact you're just like them and you're all the same
you post what you want
they post what they want.
Ah the horrible sin of pretentiousness. Shudder!
3
Anarchy Group huh? I hope you enjoy being stuck in adolescence.
I was dissapointed to learn that the first rule of Anarchy Group was not, "you don't talk about Anarchy Group."
Lastly, wasn't "fight club" an awesome movie? I totally want to model my life after a film.
I was dissapointed to learn that the first rule of Anarchy Group was not, "you don't talk about Anarchy Group."
Lastly, wasn't "fight club" an awesome movie? I totally want to model my life after a film.
6
#2, you have a point. As long as no one trys to get the government to pass laws pertaining to this it will all be good, some of us will enjoy the endless tit for tat. The anarchists have a point, I only worry that the sounders and other advertisers will try to get some law passed, the last thing we need.
7
@5:
There isn't any difference. Both are advertising (presumably) money-making entertainments.
I certainly don't read "adolescent pretentiousness" in AG's statement, which seems pretty reasonable, to the point that even PC-minded PC makes note of the fact upon which pretty much all parties seem to be in agreement: it's a "free wall" and anyone can put up anything they want on it, since apparently, the owner of the building doesn't seem to object.
There isn't any difference. Both are advertising (presumably) money-making entertainments.
I certainly don't read "adolescent pretentiousness" in AG's statement, which seems pretty reasonable, to the point that even PC-minded PC makes note of the fact upon which pretty much all parties seem to be in agreement: it's a "free wall" and anyone can put up anything they want on it, since apparently, the owner of the building doesn't seem to object.
10
@5, I didn't claim they were different from band posters. Just saying it's art covering advertisement, not art covering art.
@8, good one.
@8, good one.
11
Hey look at my fucking hipster anarchy uniform!
We are so non-conformist in our skinny black anarchy jeans and thrift-store castoffs to which we have safetypinned other pieces of ratty cloth upon which we have used Sharpies to draw anarchy symbols and punky-brewster band logos. Also please check out our anarchy earlobe stretchers with which we have "gagued-up" our earlobes to the point at which we look like Dumbo. Please also note our anarchy hairdos.
We are so non-conformist in our skinny black anarchy jeans and thrift-store castoffs to which we have safetypinned other pieces of ratty cloth upon which we have used Sharpies to draw anarchy symbols and punky-brewster band logos. Also please check out our anarchy earlobe stretchers with which we have "gagued-up" our earlobes to the point at which we look like Dumbo. Please also note our anarchy hairdos.
12
No harm in a little light-hearted culture jamming, is there? It's not like there aren't pristine Sounders ads all over the city.
But..."Anarchy Group"? Jesus kids, turn of the damn Crass records already.
But..."Anarchy Group"? Jesus kids, turn of the damn Crass records already.
13
They're an "Anarchy Group" but they're complaining about people not following the rules?
Only in the Queen City...
They're an "Anarchy Group" but they're complaining about people not following the rules?
Only in the Queen City...
14
I think someone should tell us where these Anarchy shiites live so we can tag their place.
Or their face.
Or their face.
15
I've refrained from jumping on the bandwagon all these years, but Will, shut the fuck up. It's a free wall. They're not defacing someone's private property any more than those sounders posters did. You are free to cover up their stuff too.
16
I like to go cry about a poster on a brick wall but I just can't find the time to do so like our trustafarian brethren in the anarchee klub.
17
We are so into anarchy!
So into anarchy that we will not allow others to enjoy sports and anything else we don't like!
So into anarchy that we will not allow others to enjoy sports and anything else we don't like!
18
Advertising is often as much art as anything else and a lot of art advertises something.
That being said, you put something up on a free display wall and it getting fucked with is pretty much par for the course. While calling yourself an Anarchy Group makes me do a little haha, I see nothing wrong with what they did or with the Sounders then covering it up.
That being said, you put something up on a free display wall and it getting fucked with is pretty much par for the course. While calling yourself an Anarchy Group makes me do a little haha, I see nothing wrong with what they did or with the Sounders then covering it up.
20
@15,
Not exactly. As a free wall, the intention is to let anyone post their art, advert, etc. in the spirit of free speech. But by defacing another group's posting, The anarchists group is in essence "shouting down" the original speaker. Ironic, isn't it?
Not exactly. As a free wall, the intention is to let anyone post their art, advert, etc. in the spirit of free speech. But by defacing another group's posting, The anarchists group is in essence "shouting down" the original speaker. Ironic, isn't it?
21
@20, except the sounders posters take up that whole wall, covering dozens of posters that were there before them.
Get over it, people.
Get over it, people.
25
how is it vandalism?
it's a "free" wall...the Sounders don't have permission to exclusively post there.
That's been an art space for years; if the Sounders don't like it, they can fuck off...
in front of me...
slowly...
and deliberately.
it's a "free" wall...the Sounders don't have permission to exclusively post there.
That's been an art space for years; if the Sounders don't like it, they can fuck off...
in front of me...
slowly...
and deliberately.
26
oh man, i really thought the seattle soccer team was call XBOX 360!......wait, for real? they are called the "sounders"? hahahaha
i'm with the wheatpaste vandals on this one, these green uniformed leotards can suck it (or at leat the bro ringleader running their ad campaign)
i'm with the wheatpaste vandals on this one, these green uniformed leotards can suck it (or at leat the bro ringleader running their ad campaign)
27
Um. Because "dorsh" bands don't make money marketing the space also?
I don't really care if band posters or Sounder posters get covered up, but these guys are obviously some serious losers.
Also, if you thought "Anarchy Group" was good, take a moment to consider "Anarchy Group Rules".
I don't really care if band posters or Sounder posters get covered up, but these guys are obviously some serious losers.
Also, if you thought "Anarchy Group" was good, take a moment to consider "Anarchy Group Rules".
28
I too thought it was tacky when I saw those posters up on that wall. Generally, there are amusing posters/works of art up there, and it was a bit crap to blow it all away with some posters you can see _anywhere_ else in the city. However, just as I appreciate sorbet between courses to cleanse the palate, so I appreciate this neon green skidmark and its daily mutations.
29
I love that teh Anarchy Group is so concerned with resisting tackiness. Very Oscar Wilde of them. Where do I sign up?
30
My guess is that there is a lot of crossover between AG and Critical Mass -- same douchebag philosophy...
32
I nominate teh Anarchy Group for the winner of Seattle Weekly's contest to get an Uptight Seattleite t-shirt.
I hope it has an xBox logo on it.
I hope it has an xBox logo on it.
33
Hmm, I'm used to seeing the wall change on an hourly basis sometimes. Lately it has been more stagnant with more being removed than put up. Lame. Challenge yourself to create something better instead of destroying something you don't like.
I'd rather look at hot footie players everyday than childish scrawls, so the least you could do is improve upon what's there.
I'd rather look at hot footie players everyday than childish scrawls, so the least you could do is improve upon what's there.
34
Turns out the dorsh bag who sold out Seattle and moved the Sonics to BFE owns all the billboards in Seattle leaving the Sounders with little choice but to resort to street advertising/vandalizing. SO THAT MAKES THE SOUNDERS ONE OF US> Anarchy Group Initiation Complete. The sounders may now post bills on all street advertising space so long as they follow the rules. AG rule #1 no more faces exactly the size of a sheet of paper (you're making it too easy.) Rule #2, No rules! Rule #3, why don't you just use posters instead of making illegal billboards? Duhhhh Gahhh! Rule #4, all bills must be posted with an expiration date. Rule #6, no rule #5s. AG Rule #7 stop taking my pic with your iphone (you know who you are "I work for the Sounders man"). If you have any balls you'll pull over and remove the paste covered faces before they dry. Anarchy Group Rules!
35
The most offensive thing about the Sounders posters is their wanton lack of retouching. I hope that's razor burn on Alonso's upper lip.
36
It...is a question of degree.
The advertising isn't the rub, it's the fact, as others have said, that they see fit to take up the entirety of that space for themselves.
The advertising isn't the rub, it's the fact, as others have said, that they see fit to take up the entirety of that space for themselves.
37
John T, You may sign up for the Anarchy Group news letter by going to www.anarchygroup.com and filling out the brief personal information form. Be sure to have your photo Id ready, the last four digets of your social security number and your yahoo mail security question ready. Peace out brother
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